Shloka 38
Praise of Devotion to Viṣṇu
The Supremacy of Hari’s Name over All Tīrthas
यत्फलं लभते मर्त्यस्तत्फलं कृष्णसेवनात् । यजंते कर्मयोगेन धन्या एव नरा हरिम्
yatphalaṃ labhate martyastatphalaṃ kṛṣṇasevanāt | yajaṃte karmayogena dhanyā eva narā harim
Welchen Lohn auch immer ein Sterblicher erlangt, eben dieser Lohn entspringt dem Dienst an Kṛṣṇa. Wahrlich gesegnet sind die Menschen, die Hari durch die Übung des Karma-Yoga verehren.
Unspecified (narrative voice within Svargakhaṇḍa context)
Concept: All attainable fruits culminate in and arise most truly from service to Kṛṣṇa; karma-yoga becomes blessed when it is Hari-directed worship.
Application: Convert daily duties into worship: dedicate work, speech, and earnings to Hari; keep a simple rule of offering (saṅkalpa) before tasks and gratitude after results.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: celestial_realm
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A serene celestial hall in Svarga where a luminous Kṛṣṇa/Hari presence is felt as sages and householders alike offer their daily works into a sacrificial fire that transforms into lotus-light. The ‘fruits’ of action—golden grains, flowers, and scrolls of merit—dissolve into a single radiant garland placed at Kṛṣṇa’s feet, showing that all rewards converge in sevā.","primary_figures":["Kṛṣṇa (as Hari)","assembled sages (munis)","devotee householders performing karma-yoga offering"],"setting":"Celestial pavilion with lotus pillars, a small yajña-kuṇḍa, and a distant view of Svarga gardens; offerings arranged as symbols of worldly aims (artha, kāma, dharma) being surrendered.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["sapphire blue","lotus pink","gold leaf","ivory white","emerald green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Kṛṣṇa as Hari seated on a lotus-throne within a celestial mandapa, devotees offering a tray of flowers and grains into a small yajña fire; heavy gold leaf halos, rich crimson and emerald textiles, gem-studded ornaments, ornate arch with lotus motifs, sacred conch and discus subtly present, South Indian iconographic symmetry.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: lyrical Svarga garden with delicate lotuses and flowing clouds; Kṛṣṇa in deep blue stands gently blessing sages who pour clarified butter into a tiny fire; fine brushwork, soft pastel sky, refined faces, subtle gold highlights, distant mountain-like cloud forms.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and warm natural pigments; Hari with large expressive eyes, conch and discus implied, devotees in disciplined postures offering their work-symbols; temple-wall aesthetic with red/yellow/green dominance, lotus borders and stylized flames.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: Kṛṣṇa-centered composition with lotus pond and ornate floral borders; devotees present garlands and work-offerings; peacocks and cows at the margins, deep indigo background, intricate gold detailing, auspicious symbols (śaṅkha, cakra) woven into the border."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["soft temple bells","conch shell (distant)","gentle drone (tanpura)","subtle crackle of yajña fire","celestial breeze"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यत्फलं = यत् + फलम्; मर्त्यस्तत्फलं = मर्त्यः + तत् + फलम्; कृष्णसेवनात् = कृष्ण + सेवनात् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); यजंते (पाठे) = यजन्ते; धन्या एव = धन्याः + एव।
FAQs
It presents karma-yoga as a mode of worship: selfless action becomes an offering to Hari, and its highest fruit is equivalent to the fruit of serving Kṛṣṇa.
It implies that the ultimate source of any meaningful ‘fruit’ for a mortal is Kṛṣṇa-sevā—service to Kṛṣṇa—rather than merely external achievements.
The verse praises disciplined, duty-based worship (karma-yoga) and frames blessedness as aligning one’s actions with devotion to Hari.